NART Celebrates Fellowship at ATRA 2025 Annual Conference in San Antonio

The National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) is thrilled to share highlights from two events held during the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) Annual 2025 Conference in San Antonio this past weekend. These gatherings brought together Fellows, inductees, and supporters to reconnect and socialize while also celebrating the induction of new members into the Academy.

Induction Ceremony: Welcoming New Fellows

On Sunday evening, October 19, Fellows and guests gathered at Crockett Tavern for the NART Induction Ceremony—a celebration of scholarship, leadership, and service to the profession. The ceremony began with the transition of Board leadership from outgoing President David Loy to incoming President Rhonda Nelson, marked by the lighthearted passing of a ceremonial "chicken wing." President Nelson acknowledged outgoing Past President Betsy Kemeny and thanked current Board members, Historian Marcia Carter and Treasurer & Secretary Thea Kavanaugh for their service. She also announced the new NART website at nartfellows.org and requested that all Fellows provide biographical information to Thea for the website.

The heart of the ceremony focused on recognizing and welcoming our new 2025 Inductees. Inductees were celebrated with applause as they were officially welcomed into NART and presented with a certificate and Fellow pin. Fellow pins were distributed to all Fellows in attendance, and those who could not join us will receive their pins by mail.

River Cruise: Connecting Along the Riverwalk

Following the induction ceremony, attendees transitioned to the second event of the evening—a private chartered river cruise along San Antonio's Riverwalk. The Go Rio tour provided a relaxing conclusion to a memorable day at the ATRA conference.

Fellows and guests enjoyed scenic views of San Antonio's architecture and landmarks while learning about San Antonio's history.

Looking Forward

These events honored Fellows whose scholarship, leadership, and service elevate recreational therapy while also providing meaningful opportunities to connect, share ideas, and strengthen professional relationships. The combination of formal recognition and informal networking supports the continued growth of our organization.

To our newly inducted Fellows: welcome to the National Academy of Recreational Therapists. Your achievements have earned you this recognition, and we look forward to your continued contributions to recreational therapy.

To all who attended: thank you for making these events meaningful celebrations of our shared mission. Your presence and participation helped make these events meaningful and memorable.

Stay Connected

NART will continue to support Fellows and the broader recreational therapy community through networking opportunities, scholarly initiatives, and professional recognition. We look forward to gathering again at future conferences and events.

For more information about NART Fellowship or upcoming events, please contact NARTBoard@gmail.com or visit our website.